title: Entamoeba species associated with chronic diarrhoea in Pakistan.
abstract: We determined the prevalence of Entamoeba (E.) histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii in patients with chronic diarrhoea associated with abdominal pain or discomfort mimicking irritable bowel syndrome. Stool samples were collected from 161 patients with chronic diarrhoea and from 157 healthy controls. Stool microscopy with modified trichrome stain, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Entamoeba spp. differentiation was performed. Microscopy demonstrated Entamoeba cysts in 44% (57/129) of patients with diarrhoea compared to 29% (44/151) of controls (P=0·009). In patients with diarrhoea, PCR for E. histolytica was positive in 9% (11/129) (P=0·008), E. dispar in 19% (24/129) (P=0·117) and E. moshkovskii in 19% (24/129) (P<0·001). E. histolytica and E. moshkovskii were significantly associated with diarrhoea while E. dispar was found equally in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. javed.yakoob@aku.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yakoob
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jafri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan